Israel has passed the final stage prior to commencing the building of a controversial settlement project close to Jerusalem that would effectively divide the occupied West Bank, as indicated by a government tender. The tender, which invites proposals from developers, would pave the way for the initiation of construction on the E1 project. The Peace Now organization, a group that monitors anti-settlement activities, brought attention to the tender. Yoni Mizrahi, in charge of the group’s settlement watch division, mentioned that initial groundwork could start within the upcoming month.
Development of settlements in E1, a vast area of land east of Jerusalem, has been contemplated for over two decades but was previously halted due to U.S. influence in past administrations. The majority of the international community views Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank as unlawful and a hindrance to peace efforts. The E1 initiative is particularly contentious as it stretches from the outskirts of Jerusalem into the heart of the occupied West Bank. Critics argue that it would obstruct the establishment of a cohesive Palestinian state in the region.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a right-wing politician overseeing settlement policies, has long advocated for the realization of this plan. In August, upon Israel granting final approval to the project, he remarked, “The Palestinian state is being erased from the table not with slogans but with actions.” The publicly accessible tender on Israel’s Land Authority website calls for the development of 3,401 housing units. Peace Now views the release of the tender as an indication of an expedited effort to advance construction in E1.
In a separate development, Syrian and Israeli representatives convened in Paris for U.S.-mediated discussions aimed at brokering a security agreement to ease tensions between the two nations. A joint statement following the meeting emphasized the focus on upholding Syria’s sovereignty and stability, ensuring Israel’s security, and fostering prosperity for both countries. The parties agreed to establish a joint communication cell, serving as a dedicated operational hub to facilitate immediate and continuous coordination on intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement, and commercial opportunities under U.S. supervision.
REWRITE_BLOCKED: The content provided is already rewritten and does not require further rewriting.
